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Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon

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What Does it Take to Be an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon?

Occupation Description Perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects. May diagnose problems of the oral and maxillofacial regions. May perform surgery to improve function or appearance.

Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon Responsibilities

  • Treat problems affecting the oral mucosa, such as mouth ulcers and infections.
  • Perform surgery on the mouth and jaws to treat conditions, such as cleft lip and palate and jaw growth problems.
  • Provide emergency treatment of facial injuries including facial lacerations, intra-oral lacerations, and fractured facial bones.
  • Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.
  • Treat snoring problems, using laser surgery.
  • Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants, and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.

Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon Needed Skills

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Types of Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon

  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon-Practice Owner
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Surgeon Partner
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Resident
  • Surgeon

Job Outlook for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

In the United States, there were 6,800 jobs for Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,300 new jobs for Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon by 2026. There will be an estimated 300 positions for Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon are Tennessee, South Dakota, and Virginia. Watch out if you plan on working in Idaho, Pennsylvania, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Make A Lot Of Money?

The average yearly salary of an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon ranges between $61,570 and $208,000.

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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons who work in Arizona, California, or Florida, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Arizona $208,000
California $264,380
Florida $208,000
Indiana $272,360
Iowa $263,270
Kentucky $188,750
Maryland $276,280
Massachusetts $208,000
Michigan $220,660
Missouri $208,000
Nebraska $266,810
New Mexico $54,120
New York $249,460
North Carolina $208,000
Ohio $208,000
Oklahoma $229,300
Oregon $208,000
Pennsylvania $225,660
South Carolina $256,650
Tennessee $163,220
Texas $181,260
Virginia $260,810
Washington $208,000
Wisconsin $187,400

What Tools & Technology do Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons:

  • DSN Software Oral Surgery-Exec
  • Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions Dolphin Management

How to Become an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon

Education needed to be an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Sector

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those interested in being an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon may also be interested in:

References:

Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Amy Perry via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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